EMPTY BANK OF AMERICA ACCOUNT MAY WIPE OUT LAST HOPE FOR MISSING PERSON AGENCY

In 1994, Pasqualini originally founded the Nation’s Missing Children Organization, Inc. (NCMO), joining approximately 25 other missing child agencies in the United States dedicated to helping families of missing children. Pasqualini soon discovered no support and assistance programs existed for families of a missing person over the age of eighteen, nor were there resources available to the law enforcement agencies investigating the disappearances. She set her sights on creating the first national clearinghouse for missing adults. In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed Kristen’s Law, named after Kristen Modafferi, a Charlotte, NC student who waved goodbye to her parents at the airport on her 18th birthday on her way to San Francisco for a summer honors program. They never saw her again, two weeks later on June 23, 1997 Kristen vanished. Kristen’s Law appropriated $1 million per year to NMCO to establish the first national clearinghouse for missing adults. In 2002, upon receiving Kristen’s Law funding, Pasqualini formally established the National Center for Missing Adults.

August 2005, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, United States Department of Justice (DOJ) requested NCMA’s immediate assistance to provide aide to missing Hurricane Katrina victims and families searching for their adult missing loved ones. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), the clearinghouse for missing children also received a DOJ call requesting NCMEC handle all Hurricane Katrina related missing child cases. While both agencies prepared to work in tandem, DOJ was to release a press statement announcing a toll-free hotline was available for victims in the Gulf Coast region.

“Without hesitation, we agreed to provide assistance to Katrina victims,” says Pasqualini. “I discussed my concerns with government officials regarding the inability to predict the number of hurricane victims needing assistance so we proceeded to submit a $50,000 budget based on an estimated 2,000 anticipated reports, and mutually agreed it was subject to change based upon call volume.”

With only 13 staff available at the Phoenix-based NCMA, the agency received 13,502 adult reports in the weeks following Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Rita hit shortly thereafter contributing to that number. In the months following, NCMA staff, assisted by retired law enforcement volunteers had resolved 99.8% of all reports received. Thousands of missing persons to include the displaced, the elderly, the sick and injured, and those with diminished mental capacity were reunited with their loved ones.

For over a decade, the agency operated debt-free with great credit but Hurricane Katrina efforts depleted the agency’s reserve in excess of a quarter of a million dollars. Compounded by the overall reduction of government funding to domestic programs, and an inactive Congress, the agency began to struggle financially.

Over a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast, the government finally reimbursed NCMA only $50,000 of the overall cost and refused to acknowledge conversations Pasqualini had with government officials. “We could have very easily shut the Katrina Call Center down just a week or two into the response effort recognizing the needs of victims far surpassed what anyone had anticipated, but I have no question we did the right thing by keeping the Katrina Call Center open. We did not abandon anyone needing help.” Thinking she could resolve the situation and eventually receive full reimbursement, Pasqualini has done everything she can to keep the doors open in her effort to continue to provide services to desperate families throughout the country. Pasqualini has declined compensation and given nearly $70,000 to the agency since April 2006 by cashing out her 401K to survive, even taking out a home equity loan, and finally sold her home

Despite her efforts, Pasqualini had to close the Phoenix offices doors the agency had occupied for nearly ten years. “We are now operating out of an office at a local police department with only one employee left, who herself, has gone months with little pay and no longer has health insurance,” Pasqualini said.

Out of resources and facing personal financial hardship, Pasqualini had a little over $3,000 in her personal bank account at Bank of America. Once financially secure, this was all Pasqualini had left. “I’m just beyond stressed, my mother just suffered a heart attack requiring a triple bypass, I haven’t been feeling well, and my 12 yr old daughter has been in severe pain needing a medical procedure scheduled this Friday,” said Pasqualini. “I went online to pay my own bills, anticipating without any insurance I should still have just enough to pay my daughter’s procedure only to find I am nearly $700 overdrawn and numerous overdraft fees.” Pasqualini called Bank of America and informed the bank had cleaned out her personal checking account taking $ 3061.81 because the nonprofit’s corporate credit card was delinquent. Losing what Pasqualini and her daughter had left to survive on, the nonprofit now only owes under $1,900 to the institution. “I’ve never walked away from my personal or my agency’s debt,” says Pasqualini. “I’ve done everything I can do to keep the agency out of bankruptcy by paying the agency’s bills myself but recently fallen behind. This is devastating.”

Ironically, after Hurricane Katrina, employees at NCMA submitted grant proposals to corporations, including Bank of America, requesting financial assistance from the corporate community to help offset Hurricane Katrina related costs. Pasqualini recalls receiving a letter from Bank of America declining help to her agency. “This agency serves a victim population that is incredibly under-served and just doesn’t fit into many of the corporate and foundation’s giving guidelines that normally fund things like education, domestic violence, food, shelter and clothing for example.” The agency’s plight has been in the media and newspapers across the country appearing in USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, MSN, CNN, Phoenix New Times and just weeks ago on the front page of the Sunday, Arizona Republic. Reporters frequently ask Pasqualini when she will know she has done everything possible and walk away from the agency, the single mother acknowledges the difficulties she is experiencing but maintains her commitment to helping others. “This isn’t just about me. On difficult days, instead of walking away from thousands of families who still depend on this agency’s services we just try to maintain a spark of optimism to fuel our drive to give it another go.”

There is reason to remain optimistic. Law enforcement agencies, medical examiners, and family and friends of the missing have rallied to support NCMA, sending letters and making phone calls to Congress. Pasqualini continues talking to government officials, Congress, the media, and corporate leaders. Kristen’s Law Reauthorization, H.R. 423 still awaits a congressional vote that would appropriate $4 million per year from 2008 through 2018, and in the meantime, Pasqualini continues to pray for a Good Samaritan.

“When I begin to think of giving up, I think of the thousands of families in our country with a son or daughter missing, or a spouse who never arrived home and is suspected to be a victim of foul play, or even a grandparent with Alzheimer’s disease whose life depends upon being found quickly. It can happen to anyone. Do you think they can just give up, walk away, and forget about someone they love? What I am going through just doesn’t compare.”

Everyday Pasqualini’s daughter gives her that extra nudge of support telling her mom everything will be all right and she knows her mommy can do it because the families of the missing depend on her.

“When I go to ask myself when do I quit or when have I done everything I can do? I will have to follow the guidance of a my 12 yr old daughter who believes we should not give up, remain committed and stand up for what we believe in order to help others. So today, the answer is . . . not yet.

See Also .:

News Index | E-mail to a Friend